Exhibitors donate 266,330 pounds of produce to food banks

by | October 28, 2010

Produce and floral suppliers from across the United States and around the
world donated an estimated 266,330 pounds of fresh fruit, vegetables and
flowers to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida following the close
of the 2010 Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit International
Convention & Exposition, held Oct. 15-18 in Orlando, FL.

The food and flowers were collected from the Orange County Convention
Center Oct. 18 by more than 100 local food bank volunteers, and were to be
distributed to needy residents served by Second Harvest Food Bank of Central
Florida, which serves needy residents in six central Florida counties through
600 non-profit agencies.

"This donation is such an important contribution we make to the community
here, especially given the hard economic times that have plagued our country
and this state," Bryan Silbermann, president and chief executive officer of
PMA, said in an Oct. 18 press release. “I can’t think of a better way to wrap up
Fresh Summit than to offer our fresh produce to those who could use it most,
and I’m so pleased we were able to work with such a capable and connected
organization as Second Harvest Food Bank.”

“This is an especially meaningful contribution, not only due to the sheer size
of it but also because fresh fruits and vegetables are the very kinds of highly
nutritious food that our low-income families, seniors, and others are often
lacking in their diets,” Dave Krepcho, president and CEO of Second Harvest
Food Bank, added in the press release. “These products make a deep impact
in a problem that has risen to historic and urgent proportions in central
Florida, and we are grateful.”

“Feeding America owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to PMA not only for
this donation but for all of their efforts over the years to help us provide
many pounds of fresh, nutritious produce to the millions of Americans living
on the brink of hunger,” Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America,
concluded in the press release.